Power locking and unlocking apparatus for vehicle doors

ABSTRACT

Power locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle&#39;&#39;s doors each having a latch and locking means movable from latch locking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa, the locking and unlocking apparatus comprising a reversible permanent magnet motor associated with each door and being operable in one direction or the other in response to the closing of a switch to lock or unlock the associated latch means. The power locking and unlocking apparatus associated with selected doors is operable to effect locking and unlocking of the latch means of all of the doors from inside the vehicle. The locking and unlocking apparatus associated with selected doors is operable by key controlled means and such key controlled means preferably has associated with it switch means operable from outside the vehicle to energize one or all of the locking and unlocking motors so as to permit one or all of the latch locking means to be operated by a selected one of the key controlled means. Time delay means preferably is associated with each of the locking and unlocking motors to provide a time interval between successive operations of any of the motors.

United States Patent [151 3,653,237 DuRocher [451 Apr. 4, 1972 54] POWERLOCKING AND UNLOCKING Primary Examiner-Albert 0. Craig, Jr.

APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE DOORS Attorney-Learman & McCulloch [72] Inventor:Gideon A. DuRocher, Mt. Clemens, Mich. [57] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee:Essex Imermuona] Wayne Power locking and unlocking apparatus for avehicles doors [22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1969 each having a latch and lockingmeans movable from latch locking position to latch unlocking positionand vice versa, the [21] Appl' 851,343 locking and unlocking apparatuscomprising a reversible per- Related Us Application Data manent magnetmotor associated with each door and being operable in one direction orthe other in response to the clos- [63] Continuation-impart 0f ing of aswitch to lock or unlock the associated latch means. 1963, ,874. Thepower locking and unlocking apparatus associated with selected doors isoperable to effect locking and unlocking of [52] U.S. Cl. ..70/264 thelatch means f a f the doors f inside the which The [51] Int. Cl ..E05b65/36 locking and unlocking apparatus associated with selected [58]Field of Search ..70/264, 280, 283; 292/144, doors is operable by keycontrolled means d h key com 292/201 trolled means preferably hasassociated with it switch means operable from outside the vehicle toenergize one or all of the [56] References cued locking and unlockingmotors so as to permit one or all of the UNITED STATES PATENTS latchlocking means to be operated by a selected one of the key controlledmeans. Time delay means preferably is as- 2,799, l Beal ociated each ofthe locking and unlocking motors to pro. 2,904,938 9/1959 vide a timeinterval between successive operations of any of 2,934,930 5/1960 Garveythe motors. 2,959,238 11/1960 Dyer et al. ..70/264 X 17 Claims, 7Drawing Figures 27 28 5 i 36 20 l9 2 l ,r

l0 1 /9 tr? W E H. 1 V6 1 k i 12 n 9J1 66 I3 'l"' n 34 PATENTEDAPR 4I972 SHEET 1 [IF 3 INVENTOR. GIDEQN A. DUROCHER PATENTEDAPR M972 8,653237 SHEET 2 or 3 INVENTOR. GIDEON A. DUROCHER VIBY PATENTEDAPR 4 I972SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR' GIDEON- A. DUROCHER FIG. 7

Q-MM

POWER LOCKING AND UNLOCKING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE DOORS RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 773,159, filed Nov. 4, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,874, datedNov. 24, 1970.

The invention disclosed herein relates to power operating means foractuating the latch locking and unlocking mechanisms of vehicle doorsand more particularly to improved power apparatus whereby one or all ofthe latch locking and unlocking devices may be operated either from theinside or the outside of the vehicle, and wherein the latch locking andunlocking mechanisms manually may be operated individually withoutreliance upon the power apparatus.

Power apparatus for locking and unlocking the door latching means ofvehicles has been proposed heretofore and has relied primarily upon theuse of solenoids or pneumatic devices. Fractional horsepower electricmotors are less expensive than solenoids and pneumatic devices, but oneof the problems encountered in'the use of such motors is that theswitching means for controlling the operation of the motors has to belocated within the vehicle door in an area having a particularly highmoisture content which adversely affects the switching means.

Another problem encountered in the utilization of solenoid and pneumaticoperating means for power door locking and unlocking devices is thatrelatively heavy cables, hoses and the like must be mounted within thedoor, thereby necessitating accommodation of the cables and hoses in thedoor hinge mechanism. Fitting of hoses, cables and the like in the doorhinging mechanism is an intricate operation, requiring the exercise ofconsiderable care so as to avoid cutting or pinching of the cables orhoses, and is made even more complex if the control switch is mounted inthe door.

An object of this invention is to provide power apparatus for lockingand unlocking the latching mechanism of one or more vehicle doors andwhich overcomes the problems of prior devices for similar purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterreferred to and which is operable either from inside or outside thevehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved switching meansfor controlling the operation of power apparatus for locking andunlocking vehicle doors.

Another object of the invention is to provide power apparatus forlocking and unlocking door latching mechanisms and which is lessexpensive and more reliable than apparatus previously proposed forsimilar purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a four-door vehiclehaving the door locking and unlocking apparatus mounted therein,portions of the outer panels of the doors being broken away for purposesof illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2--2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of a portion of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of a portion of therear door locking and unlocking apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the key actuatedlocking and unlocking mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of a control switchforming part of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted foruse in conjunction with a typical four-door automobile 1 having a frontdoor 2 and a rear door 3 at one side and identical front and rear doorsat the opposite side. Within each front door 2 is mounted a latchassembly designated generally by the reference character 4. The latchassembly 4 may be any one of a number of conventional kinds and, forpurposes of illustration, it corresponds to that disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 2,934,930, issued May 3, 1960, and to which reference may be had fora more detailed disclosure of the latch. Briefly, however, the latchassembly 4 comprises a frame 5 mounted inside the door between its innerand outer panels. A latch bolt 6 rotatably mounted in a bolt housing 7projects through an opening in the jamb face of the door for engagementwith a keeper mounted on a center pillar 8 of the vehicle body. The boltis held against rotation in one direction by engagement of a detentmounted on the latch frame with a ratchet that is mounted for rotationwith the bolt, an end of the detent being shown at 9 in FIG. 3. Insidethe vehicle door there is a multi-armed lever 10 pivoted at 11 on thelatch frame. One arm of the lever terminates in a notch, the walls ofwhich straddle the detent 9. Another arm of the lever terminates in aturned flange which lies adjacent one arm of a remote bell crank 12 thatis pivoted at 13 on the latch frame and which is connected by means of arod 14 to a turn handle 15 rotatably mounted on the door inner panel.When the handle 15 is rocked in a door opening direction it exerts, viathe rod 14, a force on the bell crank 10 to swing the latter in acounterclockwise direction whereupon the bell crank engages themulti-armed lever 10 and swings the latter in a clockwise direction,thereby moving the detent 9 downwardly out of engagement with the boltratchet. The bolt then is freely rotatable and the door may be opened.

To operate the latch mechanism from outside the vehicle, there isprovided a push button 16 slidably mounted in a gripping handle 17 thatis fixed on the doors outer panel. A rod 18 connects the push buttonmechanism with a lever 19 (FIGS. 3 and 5) that in turn is connected toan intermittent link 20. Operation of the push button 16 causes downwardmovement of the intermittent link 20 whereupon a shoulder 21 thereonengages the detent 9 to swing it out of engagement with the boltratchet.

To lock the door against outside operation, the intermittent link 20 maybe swung in a clockwise direction from the FIG. 3 position so as to movethe shoulder 21 sufficiently far to the left that the detent 9 lies outof the path of downward movement of the shoulder 21 when the push button16 is depressed. Thus, the intermittent link 20 is uncoupled from thedetent 9 so that the intermittent link moves idly when the push buttonis operated and the detent is undisturbed.

The intermittent link 20 is connected to one arm of a bell crank 22 thatis pivoted at 23 on the latch frame 5. The other arm of the bell crankcarries a rivet 24 which is received in a slot formed in a lockingmember 25 that is pivotally mounted at 26 on the latch frame. Thelocking. member is movable between latch locking and unlocking positionand is held yieldably in either position by an overcentering spring 27which is connected between the locking member 25 and the latch frame 5.The locking member is limited in its range of pivotal movement and isblocked against excessive overtravel in either direction by a stop tab28 bent from the member 25 and extending through a slot 29 in the latchframe. The slot 29 is of such length, however, as to permit overtravelof the member 25 a predetermined distance for a purpose presently to beexplained.

To lock the door from outside the vehicle, there is a conventional keycylinder 30 mounted on the doors outer panel and having a rockableoperating lever 31 that is connected by link means 32 to a rock lever 33that is pivotally mounted on the latch frame and which is connected to alink 34, the upper end of which is connected by the rivet 24 to thelocking member 25. Rotary movement of a key in the key cylinder 30 willshift the locking member 25 between its latch locking and unlockingpositions.

To lock the door from inside the vehicle, there is conventional manuallock operating means comprising a button 35 that is fixed to theupperend of a reciprocable link or red 36, the lower end of which ispivoted as at 37 to the locking member 25. Depression or downwardmovement of the button 35 rocks the locking member 25 counterclockwisefrom the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 so as to move the intermittentlink to its locked or uncoupled position. Upward movement of the button35 returns the locking member to its original position.

In each of the rear doors 3 is door latching means designated generallyby the reference character 40 and which is similar in many respectsto-the front door latching means 4. The principal differences betweenthe front and rear door latches are that the rear door latch does nothave an outside key-operated locking device and the rear door latch hasan a different mechanical arrangement for inside operation to provide aselective free wheeling function. Those parts. of the front and reardoor latches which are identical are designated by the same referencecharacters as corresponding parts of the front door latch with theaddition of the suffix a.

The rear door latch may be operated from outside the vehicle by means ofa push button assembly 41 that is slidably mounted in a fixed grippinghandle 42, the push button being connected via a rod 43 to the doorlatch. For inside operation there is a rockable handle 44 mounted on thedoors inner panel and connected by a rod 45 to a motion transfer bellcrank 46 which in turn is connected by a rod 47 to the remote lever 12ain the door latch. For mechanical locking from inside the vehicle, thereis a conventional button 48 that is connected by a link or rod 49 to abell crank 50 which is connected by a rod 51 to the pivotally mountedlocking member Power means 55 is provided in each front door foroperating the associated latch locking and unlocking mechanism 4 andcomprises a reversible, permanent magnet motor 56 mounted on a bracket57 that is secured to the inner door panel, the motor 56 having a driveshaft 58 on which is fixed a pinion 59.

lnterconnecting the .driving motor 56 and the locking member 25 is drivetransmission means 60 comprising a gear segment 61 journaledas at 62 onthe bracket 57 and having teeth 63 in mesh with the pinion 59. The gearhas an arcuate slot 52 in which is accommodated a stop finger 53.Engagement between the finger 53 and the end walls of the slot limitsmovement of the gear.

Pivoted to the gear 61 at a point radially offset from the axis ofrotation thereof is one end of a link assembly 64 comprising a lowerlink 65 and an upper link 66, the upper end of the latter beingconnected by the pin 37 to the locking member 25. Forming part of thelink assembly 64 is control switching means 67 which will be describedin greater detail hereinafter. For the present, however, it issufficient to state that rotation of the motor shaft 58 in one directionwill effect clockwise movement of the gear segment 61 from the positionshown in FIG. 1 so as to shift the locking member 25 to its latchlocking position, and rotation of the motor shaft in the oppositedirection will enable the link assembly 64 to restore the locking member25 to its latch unlocking position.

Power operating apparatus is provided for each of the rear door latchlocking and unlocking devices and is substantially identical to theapparatus 55. Corresponding parts, therefore, are identified bycorresponding reference characters with addition of the suffix a. Theprincipal difference between the mechanisms 55 and 55a is that thelatter mechanism includes, in lieu of the link assembly 64, a one piecedrive transmitting link 68 which is pivoted at its lower end to the gearsegment 61a and at its upper end to an arm 69 fixed to the lockingmember 250.

The link means 32 associated with the key controlled cylinder mechanismsincludes upper and lower links 70 and 71 respectively, the upper end ofthe link 70 being pivoted to the lever 31 and the lower end of the link71 being pivoted to the rock lever 33. Forming part of the link means 32is control switching means 72 similar to the switching means 67.

The structure of the switching means 67 and 72 is illustrated in FIG. 6and comprises a hollow, cylindrical casing 75 formed of insulatingmaterial such as nylon or the like and within which is a concentric,electrically conductive sleeve 76 that has an axially elongated,diametral, lost motion slot 77 between its ends. The upper end of thelink 65 extends into the sleeve 76 and is fixed to the latter by meansof a pin 78. The lower end of the link 66 also extends into the sleeve76 and is connected to the latter by means of an actuating pin 79 whichpasses through the slot 77 so as to permit limited lost motion betweenthe link 66 and the sleeve 76 and between the links 65 and 66.Encircling the sleeve 76 and arranged on opposite sides of the pin 79 isa pair of electrically conductive washers 80 and 81. In face to faceengagement with the washer 80 is an annular, pressure sensitivetransducer or switch 82 and in axially spaced, confronting relation tothe transducer 82 is an annular conductor 83 having a pair of axiallyextending legs 84 which parallel the inner wall of the housing 75.Fitted within the legs 84 is a rigid, annular plug 85 formed ofinsulating material such as nylon and which is fixed with respect to thecasing 75 by the pin 78 and by an electrically conductive screw 86 whichextends through the casing 75 and through one leg 84 of the conductor 83so as to connect to the latter an electrically conductive wire 87.

In face to face engagement with the conductive washer 81 is a pressuresensitive transducer or switch 88 similar in all respects to thetransducer 82. In axially spaced relation to the transducer 88 is anannular conductor 89 corresponding to the conductor 83 and from whichextends a pair of legs 90 which parallel the wall of the casing 75. Aninsulating plug 91 similar to the plug 85 is accommodated between thelegs 90 and is fixed with respect to the casing 75 by a pair of screws92 corresponding to the screw 86. One of the screws 92 connects a wire93 to one of the legs 90 of the conductor 89. A wire 94 is coupled bymeans of a conductive clamp 95 to the link 66.

The central opening in each of the annular conductors 83 and 89 islarger than the outside diameter of the sleeve 76, thereby providing anannular space between each of the annular conductors and the sleeve 76.The plugs 85 and 91, however, include axially extending, annularprojections 96 and 97, respectively, which occupy the annular spaces andbear against the associated transducers 82 and 88. The projections 96and 97 thus perform the function of providing axial spacing between thetransducers and their respective conductors 83 and 89, and theprojections 96 and 97 also provide concentrated force applying means ina manner and for a purpose presently to be described.

Each of the transducers 82 and 88 preferably is constructed in themanner disclosed in application Ser. No. 857,941, filed Sept. 15, 1969,and comprises an annular pad of resilient, deformable, non-conductive,synthetic rubber material such as that produced by combining Dow Corningsilicone 3120 with Dow Corning catalyst S or F and throughout which isdispersed a large number of electrically conductive particles such ascommercially available silver coated, copper particles. The padconstituting each of the transducers is completely moisture imperviousand may be formed by combining the silicone resin and catalyst andstirring the conductive particles therein, following which the mixturemay be cast in a mold and cured. The pads thus produced arenon-conductive until such time as they are subjected to sufficientcompression to cause the conductive particles to establish a conductivepath through the pad. Upon release of the compressive force, theresilience of the silicone rubber will enable the pad to expand andbreak the conductive path therethrough. The two pads constituting thetransducers yieldably maintain the links 65 and 66 in their normalpositions in which neither of the transducers is conductive.

Only one of the transducers 82 and 88 may be rendered conductive at anyone time. If the transducer 82 is to be rendered conductive, acompressive force must be applied to the transducer 82 sufficient toestablish a conductive path via the conductive particles between theconductors 80 and 83. This may be accomplished by applying a downwardforce on the link 66, via the operating button 35 and the locking member25, of sufficient magnitude to take up the lost motion between the pin79 and the slot 77 in the sleeve 76 and to cause the actuating pin 79 tobear against the conductor 80 so as to compress the pad 82 between theconductor 80 and the conductor 83. The projection 96 will provide aconcentration of force adjacent the conductor 83 so as to assureestablishing a conductive path through the transducer 82. v

To render the transducer 88 conductive, the pin 79 must be movedupwardly so as to compress the transducer 88 between the conductors 81and 89. Such movement of the pin 79 may be accomplished by upwardmovement of button 35 and corresponding rocking of the member 35 adistance sufficient to enable the link 66 to take up the lost motionbetween the pin 79 and the sleeve 76 and to effect engagement betweenthe conductors 81 and 89. The projection 97 will provide a highconcentration of force adjacent the conductor 89 so as to assure theestablishing of conduction through the transducer 88.

The tab 28 of the locking member 25 limits rocking movement of thelatter in accordance with the length of the slot 29, but the length ofthe slot is sufiicient to enable the relative movement of the links 65and 66 the distance required to effect compression of the transducers 82and 88.

The construction of the switching means 72 is the same as that of theswitch 67, and it will be understood that it is the expansion andcontraction of the link means 32, and specifically the movement of thelink 70 relative to the link 71, which effects operation of the twotransducer pads of the switch 72. Electrical leads 87a, 93a and 94a areassociated with the switch 72 and corresponds to the leads 87, 93 and94, respectivcly.

H6. 7 discloses schematically one arrangement for operating the powerlocking and unlocking apparatus of all of the doors of a vehicle. Asshown, there is one motor 56 for each of the four doors, the motor 56(L)being the motor in the left front door, the motor 56(R) being the motorin the right front door, and the motors 56a(L) and 560(k) being themotors in the left rear and right rear doors, respectively. Thearmatures of all of the motors are connected in parallel circuitrelation between power lines L1 and L-2. The control switches ortransducers of the left front door only are shown in FIG. 7, but it willbe understood that the right front door has similar switches associatedwith it. The locking transducer 82 associated with the operating button35 is depicted at 82BL, the unlocking transducer 88 associated with thebutton 35 is depicted at 88BU, the locking transducer 82 associated withthe key cylinder 30 is depicted at 82KL, and the key unlockingtransducer is depicted at 88KU.

The transducers 82KL and 82BL are connected in parallel between thejunction of the wires 87, 87a and the battery B by the line 94. Thetransducers 88KU and 88BU are connected in parallel between the junctionof the wires 93, 93a and the battery by the line 94a.

The apparatus includes a double pole, double throw relay 99 having twosimilarly wound windings 100 and 101. One end of each winding is adaptedto be connected with the battery B through the transducers 82BL, 82KLand 88BU and 88KU, respectively. The opposite ends of the relay windingsare joined and are connected to the emitter of a PNP-transistor T havingits collector grounded. A capacitor 105 is connected between ground andthe base of the transistor T. The junction of the capacitor and the baseof the transistor is connected through resistors 108 and 109 to thejunctions of the lines 87, 87a and 93, 93a, respectively. The relay 99has two switching contacts 102 and 103 which are adapted to connect thefour door motors 56 to the battery B.

When either of the transducers 82BL or 82KL is rendered conductive therelay winding 100 is energized and effects movement of the switchingcontacts 102 and 103 to the left so as to connect the battery B to thearmatures of all of the motors 56 via the lines L-l and L-2. Thepolarity of the battery should be such as to effect driving of themotors in a direction to effect movement of the locking members 25, 25ato their latch locking positions.

When either of the transducers 88BU or 88KU is rendered conductive, thewinding 101 is energized to effect movement of the switching contacts102 and 103 to the right, thus connecting the armatures of the motors 56to the battery B with a reverse polarity. The motors thus will be drivenin the opposite direction to effect movement of the locking members 25,25a to their latch unlocking positions.

Regardless of which transducer is rendered conductive, the emitter ofthe transistor T will be connected to the positive side of the battery Bthrough the appropriate winding and 101 so as to bias the transistorforwardly into conduction. Simultaneously, the capacitor will begin tocharge and within a very short time, such as one second, the charge ofthe capacitor will be sufficient to decrease the forward bias on thebase-emitter junction to render the transistor T non-conductive. Whenthe transistor is rendered non-conductive, the current through thewinding 100 or 101 ceases and the switching contacts 102 and 103 returnto their neutral positions as shown in FIG. 7, whereupon the motors 56will be disconnected from the power source. In essence, therefore, eachof the motors is energized by a current pulse of short duration, but fora period of time sufficient to drive all the locking members 25, 25a totheir latch locking or latch unlocking positions.

Although the transistor T is rendered non-conductive shortly afterenergization of the motors 56 in either direction of operation, thecapacitor 105 will maintain its reverse biasing charge through theresistor 108 or 109 until such time as the actuated transducer isrendered non-conductive and opens the circuit to the capacitor 105, atwhich time the capacitor will discharge through the transistor T. Thedischarge of the capacitor is at a slower rate than its charging rate,however, so as to require 2 or more seconds before the transistor can berendered conductive. Thus, the apparatus has a time delay characteristicwhich prevents rapid locking and unlocking operations such as may beattempted by a child and which would be harmful to the apparatus.

In the operation of the apparatus, any one of the four doors of thevehicle may be locked independently of the others by downward movementof the appropriate operating button 35 or 48. Each of the doors also maybe unlocked independently of the others by upward movement of theappropriate operating button 35 or 48. That is, the locking members 25and 250 may be shifted between latch locking and latch unlockingpositions in the conventional manner. Although rocking of the members 25and 25a causes either upward or downward movement of the associateddrive transmitting links, the shafts of the respective motors 56, 56aoffer insufficient resistance to movement of the gear segments 61, 61ato effect compression of the associated transducers. Thus, each doorlocking and unlocking mechanism may be operated completely independentlyof the others in the usual manner.

When it is desired to lock all of the doors from within the vehicle, theoperating button 35 of one of the front doors may be depressed so as toshift the associated locking member 25 to its latch locking position. Ifthe operating button 35 is depressed further to the limit permitted bythe slot 29, the link 66 will be moved downwardly, but the gear segment61 will be unable to rock clockwise due to the engagement between thestop finger 53 and the end wall of the slot 52. Consequently the links65 and 66 will be contracted and the transducer 82 will be compressed soas to rendered conductive, thereby energizing all of the motors 56(L),56(R), 56a(L) and 56a(R). The drive shaft of each of the motors, withthe exception of the motor 56(L) will be driven in such direction as tomove the associated latch locking members 25, 25a to their latch lockingpositions. The drive shaft of the motor 56(L) will not rotate becausethe gear segment 61 associated with it then already will be in itsextreme limit of rotation. The inability of the shaft of the motor56(1.) to rotate is not detrimental inasmuch as the current pulsesupplied to the motor is of extremely short duration. Upon release ofthe button 35, the inherent resilience of the transducer 82 will causethe latter to expand and become non-conductive.

When all of the doors are in their locked condition, any one of them maybe unlocked by upward movement of the appropriate operating button 35 or48 in the conventional manner. If it is desired to unlock all of thedoors simultaneously from inside the vehicle, however, either of thefront door operating buttons 35 may be moved upwardly so as to rock theassociated gear segment 61 until the stop finger 53 engages the oppositeend wall of the slot 52. Further upward movement of the operating button35, as permitted by the slot 29, will efiect elongation of the links 65and 66 and compression of the transducer 88 to render the latterconductive. When the transducer 88 is rendered conductive, all of thedrive motors will be energized, except for the motor 56(L) or 56(R) soas to drive the associated gear segments 61, 61a in such direction as toeffect movement of the locking members 25, 25a to their latch unlockingpositions. Again, the drive shaft of the motor 56(L) or 56(R) will notbe capable of rotating, but the short duration of the current pulsesupplied to that motor will not harm the latter. Upon release of theoperating button 35, the inherent resilience of the transducer 88 willcause the latter to expand, thereby rendering it non-conductive anddisconnecting the driving motors from the power source.

If all of the doors of the vehicle are locked and if it is desired tounlock one door, such as that on the drivers side, from outside thevehicle, a key may be fitted into the lock cylinder 30 and be rockedclockwise from the neutral or full line position shown in FIG. to afirst or dotted line position A. The linkage 32 will shift the rocklever 33 and effect movement of the locking member 25 to its latchunlocking position. The front door on the drivers side then may beopened, but all of the other doors will remain locked as isconventional.

Should it be desired to unlock all of the doors from outside thevehicle, the key may be rocked further so as to shift the lever 31beyond the position A to the position B, thereby causing the linkage 32to elongate inasmuch as the rock lever 33 will be at one limit of itsrocking movement. Elongation of the linkage 32 will effect compressionof the transducer 88 so as to render the latter conductive, whereuponall four of the drive motors will be energized simultaneously to effectunlocking of all of the latch mechanisms.

Although all doors of the vehicle may be locked by depressing one of thefront door operating buttons 35, there are occasions when it isdesirable to lock all of the doors from outside. In the disclosedembodiment of the invention, this may be accomplished by rocking the keycylinder 30 counterclockwise whereupon the lever 31 will be rocked fromthe neutral or full line position shown in FIG. 5 to the dotted lineposition C so as to shift the rock lever 33 to its locking position.Such movement of the lever 31 not only will lock the associated frontdoor, but also will effect contraction of the linkage 32 and compressionof the transducer 82 so as to render the latter conductive and energizeall of the drive motors so as to shift the associated locking members totheir latch locking positions.

Since all doors of the vehicle should be locked if any one of them islocked from outside the vehicle, the transducer 82 associated with thecontrol switch 72 should be more sensitive than the transducer 88 whichcontrols unlocking of the door latches. The relative sensitivities ofthe transducers 82 and 88 may be varied in any one of several ways. Forexample, the transducer 82 could have incorporated in it a larger numberof conductive particles than are included in the transducer 88.Alternatively, the transducer 82 could be made much thinner than thetransducer 88, thereby requiring less travel of the links 65 and 66toward one another to render the transducer 82 conductive.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred formof the invention but is intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitive thereof.

1 claim:

1. Power locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle door having latchmeans and locking means movable from latch locking position to latchunlocking position and vice versa,

said apparatus comprising extensible and contractile operating linkmeans connected to said locking means and movable in either of twodirections for moving said locking means from either of said positionsto the other; electrical drive means; drive transmission meansinterconnecting said drive means sand said locking means for moving thelatter from either of said positions to the other in response tomovement of said drive means; and normally open switch means formingpart of said operating means in circuit with said drive means andoperable when closed to connect said drive means to a power source, saidoperating means being operable to close said switch means in response tomovement of said operating means a predetermined distance in either ofsaid directions.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including second operating meansconnected to said locking means for moving the latter from either ofsaid positions to the other independently of said drive means andindependently of the operating link means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second operating meanscomprises a key operated rotary linkage assembly.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said linkage assemblyincludes a rod connected to a rotatably lever and movable in response torotation of said lever.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprisesan electric motor.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said motor has a rotaryshaft and wherein said transmission means comprises gear means driven bysaid shaft.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said motor is reversible.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a rotary lever andwherein said operating link means interconnects said lever and saidlocking means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said operating link meanscomprises first and second elements movable relatively to one anotherfrom a normal position, and wherein said switch means is resilient andacts on said elements to bias them to said normal position.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means in circuit withsaid drive means for disabling operation thereof for a limited periodfollowing movement of said locking means from either of said positionsto the other.

11. Power door locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having aplurality of doors each having latch means and locking means movablefrom latch locking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa,said apparatus comprising electrical drive means on each of said doors;drive transmission means interconnecting each of said drive means andits associated locking means and operable to move the latter from eitherof its positions to the other; normally open switch means in circuitwith all of said drive means and operably when closed to connect all ofsaid drive means to a power source; and manual operating meanscomprising a pair of relatively extensible and contractile linksconnected at least to the locking means of one of said doors and movablein either of two directions, said operating means being operable toclose said switch means in response to movement thereof a predetermineddistance in either of said directions, said switch means acting on saidlinks and yieldably maintaining them in a normal position from whichthey are relatively movable in either of two directions of movement.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including means in circuit withsaid drive means for disabling operation thereof for a limited periodfollowing movement of said locking means from either of said positionsto the other.

13. Power door locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having aplurality of doors each having latch means and locking means movablefrom latch locking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa,said apparatus comprising reversible electric drive means carried byeach of said doors; drive transmitting means interconnecting each ofsaid drive means to the associated locking means for moving the latterfrom either of said positions to the other; at least one of said drivetransmitting means including relatively movable parts; normally openswitch means forming part of said one of said drive transmitting means,said switch means being in circuit with all of said drive means andoperable when closed to connect all of said drive means to a source ofelectrical power; means responsive to relative movement in one directionof said parts for closing said switch means to drive all of said drivemeans in one direction to move their associated locking means from oneof said positions to the other and responsive to relative movement ofsaid parts in opposite direction for closing said switch means to driveall of said drive means in the opposite direction to move theirassociated locking means from said other position to said one position;and means for effecting relative movement of said relatively movableparts.

14. Power door locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having aplurality of doors each having latch means and locking means movablefrom latch locking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa,said apparatus comprising operating means carried by at least one ofsaid doors and connected to the associated locking means for moving thelatter from either of said positions to the other, said operating meansincluding parts movable relatively to one another following movement ofsaid one of said locking means from either of sald positions to theother; electrical drive means carried by all of the remaining doors andconnected to the associated locking means for moving the latter fromeither of said positions to the other; a pair of normally open switchmeans forming part of said operating means, said pair of switch meansbeing in circuit with all of said drive means, each of said switch meansbeing operable when closed to connect all of said drive means to asource of electrical power; means operable in response to relativemovement in one direction of said parts to close one of said switchmeans and drive all of said drive means in one direction to move theirassociated locking means from one of said positions to the other; meansoperable in response to relative movement in the opposite direction ofsaid parts to close the other of said switch means and drive all of saiddrive means in the opposite direction to move their associated lockingmeans from said other position to said one position; and means foreffecting relative movement of said parts.

15. Door locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having a powersource and a plurality of doors each having latch means and lockingmeans movable from latch locking position to latch unlocking positionand vice versa, said apparatus comprising key controlled, rotaryoperating means carried by at least one of said doors and rockable inone direction from a neutral position to and beyond a first position;means connecting said operating means to the locking means on said oneof said doors for moving such locking means from one of said positionsto the other in response to rocking of said operating means from saidneutral position to said first position; electrical drive means carriedby all the remaining doors and connected to the associated locking meansfor moving the latter from one of said positions to the other; normallyopen, resilient switch means in circuit with all of said drive means andbiasing said operating means to said neutral position, said switch meansbeing operable when closed to connect all of said drive means to saidpower source; and actuating means operable in response to rocking ofsaid operating means beyond said first position to close said switchmeans and effect driving of all of said drive means in one direction.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said operating means isrockable from said neutral position in the opposite direction to asecond position; and second actuating means operable in response torocking of said operating means to said second position to close saidswitch means and effect driving of all of said drive means in theopposite direction.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein the means connectingsaid operating means to the locking means on said one of said doors isoperable to moye such locking means from said other position to said oneposition in response to rocking of said operating means to said secondposition.

1. Power locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle door having latchmeans and locking means movable from latch locking position to latchunlocking position and vice versa, said apparatus comprising extensibleand contractile operating link means connected to said locking means andmovable in either of two directions for moving said locking means fromeither of said positions to the other; electrical drive means; drivetransmission means interconnecting said drive means sand said lockingmeans for moving the latter from either of said positions to tHe otherin response to movement of said drive means; and normally open switchmeans forming part of said operating means in circuit with said drivemeans and operable when closed to connect said drive means to a powersource, said operating means being operable to close said switch meansin response to movement of said operating means a predetermined distancein either of said directions.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1including second operating means connected to said locking means formoving the latter from either of said positions to the otherindependently of said drive means and independently of the operatinglink means.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said secondoperating means comprises a key operated rotary linkage assembly. 4.Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said linkage assembly includesa rod connected to a rotatably lever and movable in response to rotationof said lever.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drivemeans comprises an electric motor.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5wherein said motor has a rotary shaft and wherein said transmissionmeans comprises gear means driven by said shaft.
 7. Apparatus as setforth in claim 5 wherein said motor is reversible.
 8. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 including a rotary lever and wherein said operatinglink means interconnects said lever and said locking means.
 9. Apparatusas set forth in claim 8 wherein said operating link means comprisesfirst and second elements movable relatively to one another from anormal position, and wherein said switch means is resilient and acts onsaid elements to bias them to said normal position.
 10. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 including means in circuit with said drive means fordisabling operation thereof for a limited period following movement ofsaid locking means from either of said positions to the other.
 11. Powerdoor locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having a plurality ofdoors each having latch means and locking means movable from latchlocking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa, saidapparatus comprising electrical drive means on each of said doors; drivetransmission means interconnecting each of said drive means and itsassociated locking means and operable to move the latter from either ofits positions to the other; normally open switch means in circuit withall of said drive means and operably when closed to connect all of saiddrive means to a power source; and manual operating means comprising apair of relatively extensible and contractile links connected at leastto the locking means of one of said doors and movable in either of twodirections, said operating means being operable to close said switchmeans in response to movement thereof a predetermined distance in eitherof said directions, said switch means acting on said links and yieldablymaintaining them in a normal position from which they are relativelymovable in either of two directions of movement.
 12. Apparatus as setforth in claim 11 including means in circuit with said drive means fordisabling operation thereof for a limited period following movement ofsaid locking means from either of said positions to the other.
 13. Powerdoor locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having a plurality ofdoors each having latch means and locking means movable from latchlocking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa, saidapparatus comprising reversible electric drive means carried by each ofsaid doors; drive transmitting means interconnecting each of said drivemeans to the associated locking means for moving the latter from eitherof said positions to the other; at least one of said drive transmittingmeans including relatively movable parts; normally open switch meansforming part of said one of said drive transmitting means, said switchmeans being in circuit with all of said drive means and operable whenclosed to connect all of said drive means to a source of electricAlpower; means responsive to relative movement in one direction of saidparts for closing said switch means to drive all of said drive means inone direction to move their associated locking means from one of saidpositions to the other and responsive to relative movement of said partsin opposite direction for closing said switch means to drive all of saiddrive means in the opposite direction to move their associated lockingmeans from said other position to said one position; and means foreffecting relative movement of said relatively movable parts.
 14. Powerdoor locking and unlocking apparatus for a vehicle having a plurality ofdoors each having latch means and locking means movable from latchlocking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa, saidapparatus comprising operating means carried by at least one of saiddoors and connected to the associated locking means for moving thelatter from either of said positions to the other, said operating meansincluding parts movable relatively to one another following movement ofsaid one of said locking means from either of saId positions to theother; electrical drive means carried by all of the remaining doors andconnected to the associated locking means for moving the latter fromeither of said positions to the other; a pair of normally open switchmeans forming part of said operating means, said pair of switch meansbeing in circuit with all of said drive means, each of said switch meansbeing operable when closed to connect all of said drive means to asource of electrical power; means operable in response to relativemovement in one direction of said parts to close one of said switchmeans and drive all of said drive means in one direction to move theirassociated locking means from one of said positions to the other; meansoperable in response to relative movement in the opposite direction ofsaid parts to close the other of said switch means and drive all of saiddrive means in the opposite direction to move their associated lockingmeans from said other position to said one position; and means foreffecting relative movement of said parts.
 15. Door locking andunlocking apparatus for a vehicle having a power source and a pluralityof doors each having latch means and locking means movable from latchlocking position to latch unlocking position and vice versa, saidapparatus comprising key controlled, rotary operating means carried byat least one of said doors and rockable in one direction from a neutralposition to and beyond a first position; means connecting said operatingmeans to the locking means on said one of said doors for moving suchlocking means from one of said positions to the other in response torocking of said operating means from said neutral position to said firstposition; electrical drive means carried by all the remaining doors andconnected to the associated locking means for moving the latter from oneof said positions to the other; normally open, resilient switch means incircuit with all of said drive means and biasing said operating means tosaid neutral position, said switch means being operable when closed toconnect all of said drive means to said power source; and actuatingmeans operable in response to rocking of said operating means beyondsaid first position to close said switch means and effect driving of allof said drive means in one direction.
 16. The apparatus set forth inclaim 15 wherein said operating means is rockable from said neutralposition in the opposite direction to a second position; and secondactuating means operable in response to rocking of said operating meansto said second position to close said switch means and effect driving ofall of said drive means in the opposite direction.
 17. The apparatus setforth in claim 16 wherein the means connecting said operating means tothe locking means on said one of said doors is operable to move suchlocking means from said other position to said one position in responseto rocking of saId operating means to said second position.